GULF SHORES, Ala. – No. 25-ranked Central Oklahoma makes its season debut this weekend when the Bronchos will compete in the rugged Gulf Shores Invitational against five first-time opponents.
UCO opens Friday against No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne at 10 a.m. and takes on Union at 3 p.m. UCO returns Saturday to face Spring Hill (2 p.m.) and No. 6 Auburn-Montgomery (4:15 p.m.) before finishing Sunday against West Florida (11:45 a.m.).
Lenoir-Rhyne and Auburn-Montgomery both advanced to the Division II Softball Championship final site last year, while Spring Hill also made the national tournament.
"It's a tough way to open the season, but we're excited about the challenge," said head coach Cody White, who has a 446-160 record entering his 12th season at the helm. "We're looking forward to playing teams we've never seen before and we will obviously have to play extremely well.
"The girls have worked hard the last few weeks getting ready. We've had some good, productive practices, but it's impossible to simulate a real game and it will be interesting to see how we react."
The Bronchos return to Edmond to open a nine-game homestand next week, hosting the UCO/OC Classic Feb. 7-8 and the Raising Cane's Festival Feb. 14-16.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has five position starters and two starting pitchers back from last year's 43-14 team that made its 16th Division II national tournament appearance, including the fourth in a row.
The Bronchos have four returning All-MIAA players, led by All-American Terin Ritz. The senior pitcher/first baseman went 21-7 in the circle with a 1.50 earned run average while also batting .381 with 18 home runs and 58 runs batted in.
Junior shortstop Emily Deramus (.323, 14 doubles, eight homers, 31 RBI) and junior outfielder Rylee Lemos (.384, 12 doubles, 29 RBI, 25 steals) were First-Team All-MIAA selections while also earning All-Central Region honors. Senior pitcher Jordyn Pipkin (15-6, 2,61 ERA) was a Second-Team All-MIAA pick.
Junior second baseman Rylee Anglen and senior catcher Layne Smith are UCO's other two returning starters.
The Bronchos added nine newcomers, with senior pitcher Sydney Ward and junior catcher-first baseman Kennedy Clark expected to have the biggest impact.
Ward was a three-team All-Great American Conference honoree at Southern Arkansas, finishing her career there with a 57-22 record, 2.21 ERA and 454 strikeouts. Clark batted .335 with 18 doubles and 48 RBI in two years at Oklahoma Baptist, helping the Bison win back-to-back GAC titles.
ABOUT LENOIR-RHYNE: The Bears from Hickory, N.C. went 52-18 last year in winning the Southeast Region and advancing to the DII Championship finals, going 2-2 there.
Lenoir-Rhyne is led by Julia Mardigian (.419, 28 doubles, 13 homers, 67 RBI last season) and Madison Wilson (18-5, 3.00 ERA).
ABOUT UNION: The Lady Bulldogs from Jackson, Tenn. had a 28-23 record last season.
Union is paced by Courtney Marter (.355, 11 doubles, 34 RBI) and Riley Vaughn (9-6, 4.23 ERA, 111 strikeouts in 94.1 innings).
ABOUT SPRING HILL: The Badgers from Mobile, Ala. went 29-21 last year and qualified for the national tournament, going 0-2 at the South Regional.
Spring Hill is led by Meadow Villar (.399, 14 doubles, eight homers, 42 RBI) and Emmy Curry (14-5, 4.21 ERA, 73 strikeouts in 107.0 innings).
ABOUT AUBURN-MONTGOMERY: The Warhawks from Montgomery, Ala. captured the South Region title last season in making it to the final site, going 1-2 there to finish 47-14.
Chloe Baynes (.477, 103 hits, 77 runs, 34 steals) and Chelisa Newsome (7-2, 2.64 ERA, 54 strikeouts in 61.0 innings) lead AUM.
ABOUT WEST FLORIDA: The Argonauts from Pensacola, Fla. were denied a national tournament berth last year despite finishing 36-16.
West Florida is paced by Glanna Guerriero (.427, 14 doubles, 25 RBI) and Hannah Harper, 17-12, 3.96 ERA, 169.1 innings, .363, eight homers, 48 RBI).
